Parametric Model for Peak Flow Prediction in Ungaged Ephemeral Watersheds

摘要

The prediction of peak flows from ungaged ephemeral watersheds is an important aspect of arid zone engineering hydrology. Sophisticated physically based models are currently available for the estimation of peak flows; however, these models can be difficult to use and generally require detailed information on watershed properties. Parametric runoff models, while lacking complexity, require large amounts of historical rainfall-runoff data for calibration, data that are unavailable in ungaged watersheds. To overcome these difficulties, a physically based model of an ephemeral watershed was used to generate synthetic calibration data. The calibration method was validated by applying it to 53 storm runoff events from ephemeral watersheds in Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona.